The Shaws Multiplied

Copyright © 2013 Doris Howe.

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Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-1184-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-1183-2 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/02/2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Shaws Multiplied

Education was always a Priority

The Multiplication Started

Memories of the Shaw family in order of birth From Ted Anderson

Some Special Moments by Detta (Shaw) Safranek

Ted Anderson’s Personal Story

God Gives Second Chances

God Turned Beauty from Ashes by Mary Frances (Shaw) Hunse

My beauty from ashes Story—Doris Howe

Ruth Shaw Vickers

Mary And Val: (Again)

Technology’s Advancement

Farming with Irrigation

Learned from Great, Great Grampa Harvey Yeaman

Memories from Janet

Terry Colwell

Doris and Janet’s Vacation

Aloha

Valetta’s Memories

Mary Kay (Hunse) Colwell

Redemption from Water Fear

A Put Down Can Have Long Lasting, Negative Effects

Testimonies From The Descendants

World Traveling

Conclusion

God made the promise sayng, I will bless you and I will surely multiply you. Hebrews 6:13-14

THE SHAWS MULTIPLIED

A long time desire to chronicle the lives of Douglas and Amanda Shaw and their progeny has become a reality. From stories from the remaining cousins this book has become a reality. Douglas, Amanda, and their ten children have departed this earth. But, at last count 133 descendants are living. This book is dedicated to all of them as well as those yet to come.

To those of you who contributed, thank you. You may never know how your story impacted another’s life. As you read this book, I pray that your imagination will kick in and you will see between the lines and what you do see will bring very pleasant memories. I want everyone to enjoy reading the book and come out of that experience with a newer sense of roots.

This book is a brief history or roots of the Shaw family. I have said that we ALL have stories. Even though you may not have known these grand parents, Douglas and Amanda Shaw, you will be blessed and get a real connection to them by all the stories from several generations back. The research has introduced me to not just our grandparents but to aunts and uncles and cousins in a more personal way. It will do the same for you.

You will see stories of how God has worked in various situations in the lives of this family. This book is really all about God and how He worked in the lives of our ancestors, parents, and us. This book will show the Goodness of God in your lives as well as in my life. My prayer is that when you come across the stories of the works of God in our various lives as well as the lives of family members, you’ll be reminded of how God worked personally in several situations in your life. As you read, see God more clearly in the stories and KNOW He is not a respecter of persons. No matter your personal lives, God has been, is now, and shall work even Great things in your future! The purpose of this collection is to give those who are left and those yet to come a feeling of roots.

A positive element of this Shaw family with all the siblings and their spouses that I want to emphasize is they all accepted one another as true siblings. It was an unconditional love that is not found in many families, especially extended families, today. Each member of the family whether blood or in-law was accepted with that kind of love in spite of the differences in personalities, living styles, or occupations. This love often showed up in teasing ways or availability when a need presented itself. These characteristics make me proud to be a descendent of the Shaw family. I pray the same is for you. I endeavor to continue that closeness and unconditional love in my descendants.

The only picture I have of Amanda’s dad is of him and his wife. He has in his hands a huge Bible. I have since learned a whole lot more about him. Not only was he a traveling preacher; but also his character and personality and accomplishments have painted a more expanded picture of him than we saw in that one photo. The roots we have of this ancestor are traits that have led to the majority of the third generation cousins to embrace Christianity.

Additionally I’d always known Douglas and Amanda prayed for the salvation of their family and friends. So, from both sides of Doug and Mandy, the inheritance took root and established fruit—an explanation of the legacy we all enjoy in Christ.

Your contributions have made the history more real. I’ve tried to fill in some holes with information from my meager research as well as my life. My goal is to show positive aspects of these ancestors that will bless you and maybe even help to make you stand taller because of your personal roots and the influence each has had to develop your strengths. Hopefully you’ll see and understand from whom you got your interest in farming, or military, or politics, or teaching, or writing, or hospitality, or service, or career, or law enforcement, sewing, crafts, or your work ethic: honesty, strength of character, sense of humor, or Christianity. I am sure you can come up with other traits that you have seen in this family tree that I have not mentioned.

Even if you did not personally know Douglas and Amanda Shaw, and are farther down-line from them than your parents, I pray you get a connection that you did not have before this book came into your possession.

Think of this project as an adventure and it will give each of you a bigger picture of the family than you had before this project became a reality.

EDUCATION WAS ALWAYS A PRIORITY

March 22, 1885

Douglas Shaw, my dear grandson,

Your very kind and thoughtful letter of the 9th was received a few days ago and I hasten to answer it for fear I might neglect it too long, for you will have to go into the country if you work on a farm, and you might not get my letter after you leave the city.

I am always glad to hear from any of my people and more especially from you as you are the only grandchild who has ever written to me. I can see a marked improvement in your last letter. The penmanship and spelling are better. When I was of your age, I got Webster’s School Dictionary and when I would write a letter I always had it at hand to see how to spell any doubtful word. In this way I practiced at home. Then I taught school, which also helped make me a good speller until, if I do make a mistake, it is the pen that does it.

You have the foundation now. You can gain a great deal of knowledge by reading at home during your leisure hours. Here are some books I used to read and study at home. First The Holy Bible, then the History of the United States, then a Geography. I always kept the geography handy so that I could locate any proper name I came to in my reading. I also had a school-work on Philosophy. Oh, how much you can learn in that about the laws of mechanics and motion. Chemistry, like philosophy, taught me a great many useful things about the composition of matter and things in general. Many have supposed I had a college education, but I was self-taught. I was always fond of grammar, and became quite a grammarian. Most of the grammar I learned at home. However, I got started with the interest in grammar at school.

Your brothers and sisters are now separated and will have to fight life’s battle unaided by a loving mother. Oh how much there is in the influence of a fond mother. But my paper is full. Do not forget me wherever you go.

Your affectionate Grampa, G.P. Harvey Yeaman

Eliza Yeaman, the wife of Harvey who wrote this about his wife. Both of them died young and left children.

Eliza was the daughter of David Orr and Rebecca Stephenson. She was born in Union County, Indiana, January 24, 1817, and died near Mount Pleasant, Iowa, May 13, 1859.

She was an affectionate and faithful wife and mother; ever engaged in seeking the comfort of her family.

She professed for many years to having passed from death into life, having experienced the new birth in Christ. Only a few days before her death she expressed her assurance of grace and salvation. Her only wish to live was for her children.

Her final departure was without a struggle or a moan; with her senses to the last. She asked for a drink of water, which she took. She held the glass in her hand only a few minutes before she died.

A lady, Mrs. Pitcher, was fanning her. Her last words were Not quite so hard. In five minutes or less she was gone.

A tumor on her right breast seemed to be the main cause of her death.

Signed, Harvey Yeaman

Every house is built by some man; but He who builds all things is God. Hebrews 3:4

THE MULTIPLICATION STARTED

FAMILY TREE OF DOUGLAS D. SHAW AND AMANDA ELLEN (RICE) SHAW:

Douglas was born in Knox County, Illinois to Nicholas and Eliza Shaw on January 10, 1866. He passed away at his farm home in Pine Canyon. This community is located about 9 miles Northwest of Callaway and about 15 miles south and east of Arnold in Nebraska. He died on January 14, 1943.

Douglas came to Nebraska in 1877 and made his home on Cliff Table until July 13, 1890 when he married Amanda Ellen Rice. As young married folks they made their home on the Will Beckler farm for three years. It was then that they moved to DeMoines, Iowa. Doug was a plumber and worked at that trade for eleven years. They then moved back to Nebraska and purchased the home in Pine Canyon where they resided the remainder of his life—37 years.

He was a contractor and builder and practiced that trade for many years. There are a great number of homes on the Cliff Table that have his trade mark in houses, barns, and many other buildings. He was a tireless worker always honest and giving the other person the benefit of extra hours worked.

He would walk from Pine Canyon the 3-5 miles to work on a Sunday night and walk back home on Saturday night.